CLASS RACER FORUM - Ortiz Unleached at WPB, IHRA, late night report

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Ortiz Unleached at WPB, IHRA, late night report

WOW, alot has happened and I am sorry for not posting on Monday as was previously stated.

Drive shaft decided it no longer wanted to be part of the operation and decided to split. It has been fun finding a driveshaft and assorted components to join the operation. Still have the tail shaft bushing and seal to replace tomorrow.

The Imperial Palace decided it was a good time to have a charging problem attitude on the way home. It was intriguing on how one can time the traffic lights just so in order not to come to a permanent rest. Only ran two of them and rolled two stop signs and then it said whoa about 300 feet from the driveway. Unbelievable, it starts up and crawls home, that is why it is called The Imperial Palace.

And now for the observations of an IHRA National Event.

Right off the bat you can look at the schedule, really nice. Thursday Tech, 4:00-10:00PM That is great considering alot of people get there right around that time coming from off work. The next day the schedule is really getting good. Qualifying at 10:00AM. That is enough time to get up in the morning, eat something, drink a cup of coffee, get your self prepared and whatever. Now for me this is really ideal as I love to race and go down the track, just not at 8:00AM. I do not ever recall in my head where it wanted to race at that time. Now I look at eliminations day schedule and I get really excited. Two time trials at 10:00AM and then eliminations at 1:00PM. I immediately start to plan the previous nights activities. Now let me get this straight, I can party for a long period of time and still be able to be prepared the next day. WOW, count me in, I'm there, just my kind of lifestyle. As an extra, lets just say you are on your way to the track and you encounter some difficulties and end up running late. Even up to eliminations day you can still get in and tech is there ready to serve you.

We arrive late Thursday night, 1:00AM So we get parked in the morning and are you ready for this. You know how sometimes a person comes by with coffe and doughnuts, well this guy comes by with ice. All these years when I was in my van needing ice for beverages, now I have The Imperial Palace with a fridge. We asked if it came with Budweiser and he said maybe later. He never showed again.

Due to the Mexican food that we ate the previous night it was time to get rid of the evidence, and where else other than a Port A John. Now I have never encountered this before, it had real thick toilet paper, the kind you would have at your house. I know this is gross, but come on, this is real toilet paper. My son in law Sean also noted that there is a small table that surrounds the ventilation tube where you can set your beer while tending to situations.

The track was good for me as I had my lowest 60'. The track personal where very good as expected. They assisted me getting off of the track after my driveshaft incident efficiently. Saw Michael Beard a short distance away as it appeared he encountered problems also. When I was at the scales prior to eliminations I heard from tech that there would be no fuel check or scales unless it was a heads up run. Why does that makes so much sense. Thought that it was pretty neat that if you got trailered in the first round you could enter in the ET race.

The idea of having eliminations and time trials prior to the Pro's is really nice. I thought it was great to get my things done and then be able to watch the show. Not worry about the next round some time when late at night the dew rolls in.
Fuel altereds, it was awesome. I never get tired of seeing a jet semi either. Fuel Harleys and a monster truck, how neat. Then it was the ultimate bracket race, Monster Truck dialed in at a 9.40 and the jet dragster dialed in at a 6.20, now that is a bracket race. Too bad truck broke, but it still was cool. Also had Nostalgia Funny Cars, pretty cool. And they did this two times at night for qualifying and then elims the next night.

Really did not have any negative observations and had a great time. Saw some people from the past and new ones from this forum. Ex-Tech Man is a pretty cool guy, just another disgruntled racer with the way things are. Danny Waters Sr, real nice guy with similar views. Michael Beard was an entertaining individual. Billy, I'm sorry that I did not see your post warning him to keep away from me. Too late, as I will see him extensively this week in Immokalee. Let the corruption begin, first the luring with food, then beverages to set the atmosphere, you have seen it Billy, it is too late.
Safety crew were helpful as Sean got a piece of metal in his eye from working on Mayhews car, but could'nt get it out. He's ok now after he went to a doctor Monday to get it out and they said it was a good thing that they did'nt try to force it out.

Well it is time for the next adventure as we will try to leave for Immokalee tomorrow some time. It is the next IHRA at the divisional level.

From an objective stance I realize that the car counts were very low. Even if the counts were up considerably up, the schedule could support it. If it got to the point where car counts were equal to NHRA, then I am sure that significant changes would be made. But the fact still remains, this is a great sportsman schedule. If it changes it is necessary, but untill then it is super. If you are not trying IHRA then you are the one who is missing out on some fun. I do not care what you may think, it still is competition when you stage the car, it does not matter if it is a world champ or a killer local guy, or some hamster in a Kia Soul in the other lane, it still is a race. That is the reason you came out, to race. When you can get this kind of schedule to boot, what is your problem.

IHRA has my vote to participate, I'll be the one having fun.

Ron Ortiz
U/SA and another weekend is coming